ashworth



Patented Nov. 8, I898.

A. ,W. ASHWORTH.

TOE GLIP- FOR BICYCLE PEDALS.

(Application filed July 25, 1898) (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES ALBERT W. ASHlVORTH, OF ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT PATENT OFFICE.

ASI-IWORTI-I AND ELIZABETH ASHVVORTH, OF SAME PLACE.

TOE-CLIP FOR BlCYCLE-PEDALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,957, dated November 8, 1898.

Application filed July 25, 1898. Serial No. 686,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT W. ASHWORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Cloud, in the county of Stearns, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toe-Clips for Bicycle-Pedals, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The object of this invention is the production of a simple and inexpensive adjustable toe-clip for bicycle-pedals made of a single piece of wire capable of being readily and quickly applied to or removed from the pedal and provided with a'double adj ustmentviz., a rigid adjustment and an automatic springy clamping adjustment due to the loose link connections on top thereof and to the springy nature of the sides of the clip-whereby one standard size of said clip can be adapted to feet of different sizes. I attain this object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved toe-clip applied to a bicycle-pedal. (Shown in dotted lines.) Fig. 2 is a front view of the same, taken slightly from above. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the improved toe-clip, but showing the rear end of the top loop slightly modified in form, being larger and more ornamental than the top loop shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 -is a perspective view of the improved toe-clip, showing the rear end of the top loop slightly modified in form and the upper portions of the front loops united by a sheet-metal clasp and the lower portions of said front loops clamped together and protected against Wear by a sheet-metal plate. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the protectingplate. Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the clamps for each pendent loop. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a clamp adapted to clasp together both pendent loops of the toeclip.

In said drawings, A represents on each side of the toe-clip, toward the rear side thereof, a U-shaped loop of the wire,which constitutes a jaw to bear against the side of the shoe of the wearer. The front end of the upper branch of said U -shaped loop is bent inwardly toward the axis of the toe-clip and folded again outwardly and downwardly to constitute a closed elongated loop a. The lower branch of the U shaped loop A is shorter than the upper branch, and its front end is first bent downward, and a continuation thereof is bent upward to obtain a pendent vertical U-shaped loop 1), adapted to receive a small screw-bolt 0 between its branches when two fastening-clamps are used. The upper end of the inner branch of the loop I) is bent substantially horizontally and forwardly of said inner branch and its upper. end turned up to constitute a large loop B to receive and support the front end or toe of a shoe of the wearer. The upper end of the wire of the loop 13 is bent laterally, first outwardly and then inwardly, to constitute a horizontal U- shaped loop (1, the curved apex of which is received in the elongated loop a formed on the end of the wire. The rear branch of the horizontal loop d is bent rearwardly and slightly upwardly and its rear end bent forwardly again to constitute a tongue f to overhang the top of the shoe of the wearer and prevent it from leaving the interior of the toeclip. The portion of the wire of which the opposite side of said toe-clip is made has the various bends and loops as above described, the two sides being identical in form.

In the toe-clip shown in Fig. 3 the rear end of the rear branch of the horizontal loop at is bent upon itself and interlocked with the rear branch of loop on the opposite side, and

' is bent first outwardly and then inwardly to constitute a loop or wing f before reaching the rear end tongue fto produce a larger and more ornamental top loop for the clip.

In Fig. 1 the toe-clip is shown attached to what is known as a rat-trap pedal (shown in dotted lines) by means of small conoavoconvex plates 9, centrally perforated for the passage of the screw-bolt a, the latter passing through horizontal slots in the front bar of the pedal, and is retained by the nut h, in en gagement with the screw-threaded portion of said bolt 2;. The rigid adjustment of the toe-clip as regards its width is obtained by means of the bolts 0 in the slots of the front bar of the pedal, and the springy lateral clamping of the side edges of the sole of the wearers shoe is obtained from the rear loops A of the clip, the curved end of the loop d normally bearing against the outer end of the interior of the elongated loop a, as shown in the drawings, said position being obtained by giving a proper bend to the loop A While manufacturing the toe-clip of springy Wire.

In Fig. 4 the rear upper portions of the front loops B are united bya sheet-metal clasp 70, having two of its edges bent and made to encircle the wire of said loops to increase the rigidity of said portions and also present a surface of sufficient size to stamp the date of the patent thereon. The lower portions of the front loops B and of the loops A are protected against wear by the gritty soles of shoes by a sheet-metal plate M, cut substantially the form of a Greek cross, the front arm of which has its edges bent and made to encircle the wire of said portion of the loops B and adds strength and rigidity to them. The rear arm m is bent downward in the rear of the loops 1) and provides a flat surface to bear against the front of the pedals. Said arm m has a vertical slot therein for the passage of the retaining-bolt, that is first introduced through a clamping-plate 9 the latter being of suitable width to have its flanged edges made to engage with theinner branches of each pendent loop I) of the toe-clip. The two lateral arms of the plate M overhang the lower ends of the yielding loops A. Said loops may be inclosed in leather or have leather secured against their inner face to serve as a cushion against the shoes of the user.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim 1. A toe-clip for bicycle-pedals consisting of a springy wire bent and looped in the middle of its length and having lateral loops (1 in front of its middle loop, loops B in front of the loops d, pendent loops 1) and loops A in the rear of the loops 1), the upper branches of said loops A ending in elongated loops a in engagement with the loops (1 substantially as described.

2. A toe-clip for bicycle-pedals consisting ofa springy wire bent and looped in the middle of its length and having lateral loops (1 in front of its middle loop, loops in front, loops under, and loops divergent in the rear of the loops d, each divergent rear loop having its upper branch ending in an elongated loop a, in engagement With one of the loops (1; whereby said rear loops are adapted to yield laterally from each other substantially as described.

3. A toe-clip for bicycle-pedals having two pendent loops capable of lateral adjustment from each other upon a pedal, and two rearwardly-extended loops A having their upper branches yieldingly adjustable from each other and their ends looped on top of the upper portion of the clip substantially as described.

4. The combination of atoe-elip for bicyclepedals consisting of a springy wire bent and looped in the middle of its length and having lateral loops d in front of its middle loop, loops B in front of the loops d, pendent loops 1) and loopsAin the rear of the loops 1), with the metal plate M secured to the front loops B and overhangingthe inner ends of the loops A substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT XV. ASIIWORTII.

\Vitnesses:

ABRAHAM C. BERNSTEIN, CHARLES SPREYER. 

